Hawaiʻi Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring
Seattle Aquarium: Conservation Programs and Partnerships
Summary
The Seattle Aquarium has cared for and shared information about Hawaiʻi reef fishes and corals since the mid-1980s. In 2009, our conservation work expanded to include monitoring of Hawaiʻiʻs coral reef ecosystems. In collaboration with Hawaiʻi’s Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) and Washington State University, eight reefs were selected along the west coast of Hawaiʻi Island to survey via SCUBA-based diver operated video. This research - which continues today - advances both our climate resilience and sustainable seas conservation priorities. Its aim is to provide long-term data on the health of fish populations.
Our research questions are:
Did our unique underwater survey methods (developed in the Pacific Northwest) work well to capture coral reef fish and coral community diversity and abundance changes over time?
How did coral reef fish communities change after climate events such as marine heatwaves observed in 2014–2015?
What are the long term repercussions as marine heatwaves are expected to increase in magnitude and frequency?